Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

The Clarity and Priority of Following Jesus
Matthew 8:18-22

1. Jesus wants disciples not a crowd, v. 18
• Matthew 8:14-17
Two things that drew a crowd...
a)spiritual authority
b)physical dominion
• Luke 14:25-27

2. To follow means to experience, v. 19-20
• John 15:18-21

3. Following interrupts timing, v. 21-22
“I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see
her no more in this world ? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and
her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to
her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India;
to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent
death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for
her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of
God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory,
with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to
her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?”

-Adoniram Judson

Mental worship...
1. Do you ever think of yourself in terms of having spiritual authority and physical dominion?
2. Can you remember a negative Christlike experience that you had and how did you respond?
3. How would your mental health be affected if you saw your negative experiences as a
Christlike experience?
4. Do you ever wonder if God’s plan for your kids is different than yours?
5. Is there anything you’ve told God you would do when ____________ happens?

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

The Questions of Easter
I Corinthians 15:1-11
1. What is the Gospel? v. 1-2
Six experiences with the Gospel...
1) preached to you
2) you received it
3) in which you stand
4) by which you are being saved
5) if you hold fast
6) unless you believed in vain
2. What is important or ultimate, v. 3-7
Here is what the good news says is important...
a)Christ died for our sins
“The wisdom of God has ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us from the
wrath of God without compromising the justice of God.”
- John Piper
a)b) He was buried
b) c). He was raised
The resurrection means two things:
1) the death of Jesus was enough

2) we get to live a new life
Romans 6:4
d) He appeared
3. Is the Bible reliable and can it be trusted? v. 3-4
“...in accordance with the Scriptures.”
Examples of the Bible’s reliability...
1) historical reliability
2) internal consistency
3) spiritual authenticity
4) prophetic reliability
5) scientific reliability
Ecclesiastes 1:7
Psalm 1:1-3
4. Does your past feel bigger than your future? v. 8-9
I Corinthians 15:10

Mental worship...
1 Does the Gospel alter or affect the way you actually live your life?
2 Who or what has clarified your view of what is important?
3 How often do you experience this “newness of life” the Bible talks about?
4 Are there areas of your life where its hard to trust the Bible?
5 Do you have a “because” that you think disqualifies you from the promises of the
Gospel?

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

What Jesus Really Came To Do
Luke 19:28-44
1. Everybody plays a role in what God is doing, v. 28-34
2. Jesus comes on a mission for God, v. 35-39
⁃ Zechariah 9:9
Four reasons it matters that biblical prophecy is fulfilled...
a)it demonstrates the Bible to be divinely inspired
b)proves that God is sovereign over human history
c)confirms Jesus as the Messiah
d)gives us hope as it relates to the future
⁃ Luke 9:21-22
⁃ Luke 9:43-45
⁃ Luke 18:31-34
3. Not understanding Jesus is consequential, v. 41-44
v. 42- “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!”

Mental worship...
1. Do you feel as if your life and possessions play a role in what God is doing.
2. How much does God have to say before you can let go of something you really value?
3. How does the fulfillment of prophecy and the reality of provision affect your faith?
4. What is it about Jesus that people don’t understand and how would you explain it to them?
5. Is there anything about Jesus that you don’t understand?

Leo Almeida
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

The Authoritative Touch and Word of Jesus
Matthew 8:1-17

1. A Touch That Changes Everything
• 2 Cor. 12:9-10
2. A Word That Is Sufficient
• Matthew 10:29-31
• John 16:7
• John 17:22-23

____________
Mental Worship Questions:
1. What part of your life needs the touch of Jesus the most right now?
2. Do you believe that Jesus is able to go even beyond what you’re asking?
3. Are you a part of Group 1 or Group 2; not praying for healing or sick of praying for healing?
How did you land there?
4. Who do you know that takes Jesus’ word for it? What is different about that person’s life?
5. Would anyone close to you describe you as someone who is gladly under the authority of Jesus?

Wade Burgess, Executive Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

ThIs is the Way
Matthew 7:13-29

1. Easy is not best - v 13&14
2. Popular is not right - v 13&14
3. Develop habits based on principle, not preference - v 13&14
4. Recognize good preachers/teachers:
A. Compare to the Bible
B. Character vs Charisma
C. Consider the Product
5. Heart that Matters - v 21-23
6. Living outweighs the Doing - v 21-23
7. Living on Feeling is Unstable - v 24-27
8. Living on proper belief will support a Lifetime - v 24-27

Mental Worship
1. How could you be more immersed in the Gospel?
2. Where could you be intentional with the Gospel?
3. Are you more often giving in to comfort and preference or obedience?
4. Where have you not put God first?

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

How Prayer Transforms The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:7-12

1. Prayer involves persistence, v. 7-8
Three kinds of prayers...
a)asking- prayer for provision
b)seeking- prayer for direction
c)knocking- prayer for breakthrough
Luke 18:1-8
2. Prayer puts us in touch with the nature of God, v. 9-11
Matthew 26:39
3. If we relate to God properly we will relate to people differently, v. 12
Mental worship...
1. Are you currently asking, seeking or knocking?
2. Have you ever thanked God for unanswered prayer?
3. Do you trust God’s nature or your need when you pray?
4. Does your parenting leave room for your kids to feel their need for God?
5. When was the last time you ever experienced the “how much moreness” of your heavenly Father?

Blake Hardcastle, Equipping Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

How to Be a More Enjoyable Person
Matthew 7:1-6


1. Put Away Your Judgmental Heart. v. 1-2
 • Keep Thinking 
 • Stop Obsessing Over Small Things
 • You Condemn Yourself
 ⁃ With Others v.2
 ⁃ Condemn Yourself With God, 2 Corinthians 5:10

2. See The Cartoon You v. 3-4

3 .Don’t be Unthinking. v .6

4 Right Judgement Has an Order. v. 5

A. First Get Clear Eyes 
B. Then Do Holy Work

Four types of speech.

• Teach: Instruct what God says to believe and behave. 
• Correct: Warning, “Change what you are doing.”
• Encourage: Don’t stop! Keep doing good work!
• Console: Let me join you in your burden.

Mental worship

1. In what situations are you quick to be a fault-finder? 
2. Does anyone come to mind whom you need to build more trust with?
3. Is there harshness you need to take responsibility for?
4. What small thing do you need to stop obsessing over?
5. Are you losing or gaining relationships in the last 2 years?

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

Communion
I Timothy 1:12-17
1. Everybody has a past, v. 13
“People get confused in this life about what they want, what they’ve done and what they think
they should have because of it. Everything they think they are or did takes a hold so hard that it
won’t let them see what they can be.”
2. Anybody can receive God’s mercy, v. 13
3. Grace brings stuff with it, v. 14
4. Mercy always comes with a mission, v. 15-17

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

Matthew 6:25-34
How To Change Your Relationship with Anxiety

1. A proper definition of life, v. 25
2. A motivating perspective on life, v. 26
Two things we can learn from birds...
a) God’s provision is more reliable than my performance
“Jesus looks at the world and sees abundance. He has a conception of the
universe as beautiful creation that is packed with opportunity and resources and
potential. Jesus walked around with this deep conviction that despite all of the pain
and suffering that he saw going on in the world, despite all the pain and suffering
that he himself experienced, he still believed that Yahweh the God of Israel, the
creator of heaven and earth is an extremely generous host who has given an
overabundance of resources and opportunities to all of us.” - Tim Mackie
b) my value is not determined by how much I have in my “barn.”
Luke 12:13-21
3. A right view of yourself, v. 26b
Three simple reasons for human value/dignity...

a) humans are the only thing made in God’s image
b) humans were given the cultural mandate
Genesis 1:28
c) because Jesus said so

4. A biblical view of the role of anxiety, v. 27-30
Questions we should ask ourselves when feeling anxious...
a)What is anxiety accomplishing for me?
b) What am I considering too much or not enough?
c)Do you believe God will do for you?, v. 30
d) In who or what is my faith?

5. A right view of the Father, v. 31-34
Matthew 6:7-8
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness...”
Ways we seek our own righteousness...
a)You always have to be right, even when you’re wrong
b) You cannot stand to be misunderstood
c)You insist on always knowing

Mental worship...
1. What changes do you need to make to the way you define life?
2. Who do you compare yourself to and what is the outcome of that comparison?
3. Where do you go, what do you look to in order to feel your value?
4. Do you think more about the size of your barns or the state of your soul?
5. In what ways do you seek your righteousness?
6. How much of today gets eaten up by tomorrow in your thoughts?

Ian Weber, Student Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

What Allegiance to God Looks Like
Matthew 6:19-24

1. What do we treasure v.19-21
a. Bad investments v.19
⁃ Moth = anything nature can destroy
⁃ Rust = anything time can decay
⁃ Thieves = anything that can be taken without warning
b. Good investments v.20
c. Your heart follows your treasure v.21
2. What do our eyes see? v.22-23
a. Healthy eyes bring light to the body
b. Bad eyes bring darkness to the body
c. Don't confuse the two
3. Who is our master? v.24
a. Good master
b. Bad master
c. Everyone is a slave to something

Mental Worship...
1)What earthly treasures are most tempting for you to spiritually invest in? Why?
2)Where do you find yourself spiritually investing in heavenly treasures?
3)How do you see your heart following your treasures?
4)Are your eyes healthy or not? How would you know?
5) Who / what are you a slave to?